NO TIME FOR THE SELFISH
HIS charm offensive over. It is now down to business for Jose Mourinho.
His opening press conference contained messages for his new squad at Spurs and reflections on the one he left behind at Manchester United.
There is still top-four, an FA Cup and a Champions League knockout place up for grabs. Mourinho is energised to target them all. What he wants from his squad is the work ethic of an NBA superstar.
He said: “I read one quote from Kobe Bryant, ‘People say that I’m difficult but I’m only difficult for the ones that don’t share my principles’.
“So all the colleagues that share his principles, they just love him.
“With me it’s basically the same. For me everything is about the team, it’s not about selfish people. For me, everything is about the group and professionalism and commitment and respect for the club, respect for mates, respect for the fans.
“I cannot run away from this so if there is somebody that doesn’t share these principles with me then we have a problem and we will always have a problem.
“The players are only big when they make the others better. You cannot be a big player if you just think about yourself.”
The likes of influential Harry Kane will have no issue with all that. It might just touch a nerve, however, with a number of players at Old Trafford.
In case there was any doubt, Mourinho added: “Sometimes you have to work with people you don’t love and work well. I have principles that I cannot change and one of those is that I don’t think I can change.”
That said, the Portuguese was adamant the year out since being sacked by United last December had given him time to look at himself and analyse where he had gone wrong.
He said: “These were months to think, to analyse, to prepare and anticipate things. You never lose your DNA, you never lose your identity, what you are.
“I’m not going to make the same mistakes, I’m going to make new mistakes.
“I’ve had time. I think I am stronger. From an emotional point of view I’m relaxed, I’m motivated, I’m ready and I think the Spurs players have felt that in these two days.”